Carlisle suffered a pre-season injury blow with former Sunderland winger Brendan McGill set to the miss the first month of the season.

He damaged ribs at Workington on Thursday night and although he played 45 minutes yesterday, United manager Roddy Collins said: "He was in agony at half-time and could be out for three weeks."

Carlisle's new boy Chris Billy was the hub of most Carlisle movement but frankly there's still a bit of work to do on the finishing for both sides.

Until referee Miller decided to take a hand in the 57th minute, both sides promised much in attacking build-up but achieved little at the end of it.

As early as the fifth minute Stockport's Keith Ellison set the pattern, coming round the back of the home defence onto Ali Gibb's cross only to head over from four yards.

Carlisle striker Craig Farrell despatched a couple of speculative efforts wide, Paul Raven cleared an Ellison shot off the line and Brendan McGill took advantage of a goalkeeping error to chip against the top of the bar.